Chapter 11: The Video
Our wedding anniversary.
The password was so simple it terrified me.
I typed the date into the encrypted file Principal Bennett had sent.
The video opened.
At first, there was only a grainy hallway.
Then Miles appeared.
He was wearing the same blue hoodie he'd worn the day he first came home crying.
He wasn't crying in the footage.
He was angry.
A man stepped into view.
Tall.
Gray hair.
Same posture as Daniel.
Same face.
I covered my mouth.
Ariana's mother whispered, “That's him.””
The man handed Miles an envelope.
Miles shook his head.
“I don't want to.””
The man leaned closer.
“You want your mother safe, don't you?””
Miles nodded.
“Then do exactly what I tell you.””
My hands trembled.
The man continued.
“Pick Ariana.””
“Why her?””
“Because her mother knows where the evidence is.””
Miles looked confused.
“I don't understand.””
“You don't need to.””
Then he handed Miles the photograph of Ariana's mother.
“Make everyone believe she is the problem.””
Miles stared at the picture.
“What if I get caught?””
The man smiled.
“You won't.””
The video ended.
I couldn't speak.
Ariana's mother was crying.
“He used my daughter.””
“No,” I whispered.
“He used my son too.””
My phone rang.
David.
I answered.
“Where are you?””
“I'm at your house.””
I froze.
“Why?””
“Because someone broke in.””
My blood went cold.
“Is Miles there?””
“No.””
“Then why are you at my house?””
“I found something.””
“What?””
“Come home.””
“No.””
“Laura, please.””
“I'm going to the community center.””
“You can't.””
“Why?””
“Because that's where Richard is taking Daniel.””
I gripped the phone.
“Richard is there?””
“Yes.””
“How do you know?””
“I followed him.””
“Why?””
David exhaled.
“Because I owe Daniel the truth.””
“What truth?””
Silence.
“David.””
“I knew about the crash.””
My chest tightened.
“You knew?””
“I knew someone had tampered with the car.””
“And you did nothing?””
“I was threatened.””
“By Richard?””
“Yes.””
“What did he have on you?””
David's voice broke.
“My daughter.””
I closed my eyes.
This was bigger than I had imagined.
Everyone had been forced into silence.
Everyone except Ariana.
She had refused to stay quiet.
And that was why they had targeted her.
“David,” I said, “where is Miles?””
“I don't know.””
“You said you were at my house.””
“Yes.””
“Then how do you know Richard is taking Daniel to the community center?””
“Because Richard called me.””
“What did he say?””
David whispered,
“He said tonight was the end.””
Ariana's mother grabbed my shoulder.
“Laura.””
I looked at her.
She pointed through the windshield.
A black SUV had stopped across the street.
I couldn't see the driver.
David heard the silence.
“Laura?””
I whispered, “We're being followed.””
“Don't go to the community center.””
“We have no choice.””
“Yes, you do.””
“What?””
“Go to your office.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
“Because that's where Richard hid the original evidence.””
My heart stopped.
“What evidence?””
“The evidence your husband found.””
“You said Daniel hid it.””
“He did.””
“Then why would it be at my office?””
David took a breath.
“Because Richard has been searching for it for six years.””
“And?””
“And he finally found out where Daniel put it.””
“Where?””
David's answer came slowly.
“In your desk.””
I stared at the phone.
“My desk?””
“Yes.””
“What is it?””
“A recording.””
“Of what?””
David's voice became barely audible.
“Richard confessing to Daniel's murder.””
The line went dead.
I looked at Ariana's mother.
“We're going to my office.””
She nodded.
But as I started the car, my phone buzzed.
A new message.
A photograph of Miles.
He was sitting in a chair.
Behind him stood Daniel.
Alive.
His face was bruised.
May you like
And beneath the photograph was one sentence:
*Bring the pendant to your office. Come alone.*
